EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: ‘Hollywood on the Potomac’: Actors to Activists
by Jason Killian MeathSo many big name stars, singers and sports legends have visited Washington over the years, the city is often referred to as “Hollywood on the Potomac.” So, that’s the title of my new book (available now at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Borders) featuring over 200 photographs and stories that detail the fascination between Hollywood stars and Washington power-players — from Presidents Truman through Obama.
Here’s an excerpt:
Chapter Three
ACTORS TO ACTIVISTS
Sometimes activists happen to become actors and musicians. It happens more than we might think. And why not? It takes a natural drive and outspoken ambition to claw into stardom. So it makes sense that many famous names and faces have something to say – and it’s not off a script.
Robin Bronk heads The Creative Coalition, the leading political advocacy group for show business. Bronk says nowadays “celebrities need an agent, a manager, a publicist and an issue.” Saving the spotted owl or protesting against landmines isn’t necessarily good for an acting career, but it shows how the power of celebrity can be used to change minds. “There’s no need to check your citizenship at the stage door,” says Bronk. All of this idealism can come off as goofy to a Washington desk-jockey. But it is wise not to brush it off; celebrities at the top of their game can successfully push an agenda straight through the stuffiest bureaucracy.
Senate Dining Room, Washington, D.C., 1970’s Actor Marlon Brando dines with Senator Charles Percy (R-IL). Brando wrote in Songs my Mother Taught Me, “Simply because you’re a movie star, people empower you with special rights and privileges.” Brando grew to understand those privileges using his influence to stump for civil rights, better treatment for Native Americans and fair housing. (Photo courtesy U.S. Senate Historical Office)
Political media sage and songwriter Mark McKinnon notes, “musicians especially almost always represent the anti-establishment, the voice without power.” Think of activist musicians like Bob Dylan, Bono and Peter, Paul and Mary. McKinnon continues, “part of the Hollywood-Washington relationship is finding the art of the possible.”
The result of all this goodwill and ambition can lead to some offbeat alliances — exotic film actress Angelina Jolie plots refugee camp security with Sen. Richard Lugar, trailblazing baseball player Jackie Robinson turns up the heat on President Eisenhower for civil rights and rock star Bono and President George W. Bush buddy up over AIDS policies.
Grand Foyer, The White House, October 1985 Pres. Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan pose with action star Sylvester Stallone and his wife actress Brigitte Nielsen during a State Dinner for Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore. What better way to impress a head of state – invite Rambo to dinner. (Photo Courtesy Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.)
There is plenty historic evidence that Hollywood is a powerful mouthpiece for political candidates or issues. In World War II, Rita Hayworth, Bing Crosby, and Fred Astaire asked Americans to buy War Bonds to support U.S. forces. Hollywood played a prominent role in the civil rights movement as stars such as Marlon Brando, Paul Newman and Sammy Davis Jr. led marches on Washington in the 1960’s. Dan Glickman sees Hollywood from both the political side and within the film industry as the president and chief executive officer of the Motion Picture Association of America. “When a celebrity shows up at your hearing on Capitol Hill,” he notes, “you are guaranteed to have a full room of reporters, staff members – and it usually means more congressmen show up too.” Whatever the result, it is always great theater when actors turn into activists.
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13 Comments
"Birds of a Feather Flock together"
oh, and Mark McKinnon is a low-life, imao.
Boy Brando was spot on with that comment.
Please read these two articles from Van Jones, the white houses green job czar. VERY enlightening.
http://www.boomfox.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=3...
How do I get my autographed copy?
I wouldnt mind activism in Hollywood so much if there was 'equal time' for activism amongst us regular joes. Every time one of those Hollywood activists get in my face and call me stupid because I disagree with their position, Id like to be able to take a bullhorn to their face and screech back at them. I dont mind a fight, I dont mind a confrontation. Hold me back from it though, and it will only build up. fine by me if Hollywood wants to stump for a candidate, but that does not exclude them from being under the gun of criticism. Its why I always say that a Hollywood actor who runs for an office is far more legitimate than some scraggly actor coming off of some 3 nite bender who wants to lecture me about how to spend my money. The Hollywood actor who runs for office and goes through the gauntlet of criticism has EARNED his right to stand behind the podium. His position legitimizes mine as a citizen, where as Woody harrelson or Susan Sarandon et al quite obviously dont believe in the freedom they espouse to uphold. "Freedom for me but not for thee" – THAT is why so many of them should be reminded "shut up and sing!"
I was reading an article years ago about the two Coreys; Feldman and Haim. They shared the same manager, and he would send them to environmental rallies up and down the California coast. The Coreys didn't care about the environment, it was all about publicity. People in the entertainment industry aren't exactly known for keeping it real.
Hollywood is high school all over again, but with money.
Washington DC is Hollywood for ugly people.
I just figured it out. Politicians think that they are STARS. And stars think that they are POLITICIANS. Thank God for God since He knows that He is neither a politician nor a star. He just knows that he is GOD and that HE is in charge of EVERYTHING. Which makes both the politicians and the stars somewhat irrelevant, don't you think?
Before I retired as a teacher, I realized the power that I had in my classroom. I was the TEACHER. My kids believed me and trusted in me. That is power also–on a smaller scale than a Hollywood star, but power nonetheless. But I didn't use that power to convince my easily moldable students to believe something that was/wasn't in their best interest. My focus was to create an environment in which my students would learn to think for themselves. In fact I was apolitical in my classroom because I DID realize the power of my position. I wish that Hollywood's stars would realize the same thing. For me it was "shut up and teach." For Hollywood's elite, it is "shut up and sing/act." I got that. Do they?
The land of Real B.S. embraces the the land of Make-Believe B.S. Nice. No wonder everything's upside down. Laura Ingraham put it the best. Shut-Up and Sing!
I feel similarly. I have no issue with celebrities using their status to promote the issues they believe in. They are, after all, American citizens (most of the time, anyway) and I don't expect them to suddenly become apolitical just because they're famous. Granted, some are more obnoxious about it than others, and it seems as though some of them actually believe the hype that surrounds them, thinking themselves better, more intelligent and more educated than us common rabble.
If they're using their fame for a good cause, more power to them. It's just unfortunate that so many of them lean left instead of right, and so many of those who use their bully pulpit to direct others fail to correct, much less examine, their own lives.
Looks like an interesting book w/ great illustrations and a politically neutral text.
I can't help but believe that the blurring of lines between show biz and politics really began in the television age.
Nowadays it seems that there ARE no lines. To me, the leftist narrative is just a bizarre movie script. To them it's Reality.
Sounds fascinating! Can't wait to buy it!
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